Best postpartum underwear

These briefs from a trusted brand stretch and stay put, say moms who swear by the comfort of these underwear. Leah Rocketto, Associate Commerce Director for BabyCenter says that when she shopped for postpartum underwear, she wanted to find a pair that would be comfortable no matter how she delivered her baby. 

"Fruit of the Loom briefs were roomy enough to accommodate the padsicles needed for vaginal birth recovery, and high-waisted enough so as not to irritate a c-section scar," says Leah, who ended up having a vaginal birth. Not only did the underwear hold her padsicles properly, but they held her body well, too. "I have a sort of large butt, and most underwear can ride up," says Leah. "But the Fruit of the Loom briefs provided plenty of rear coverage to prevent that from happening and causing additional discomfort in the postpartum phase."

Made of 100 percent cotton, these undies are breathable. They come in many different colors and styles. And they're inexpensive, so you can stock up. "I ended up buying two packs because I had a feeling laundry would not be a priority in the postpartum days…and I was right," says Leah. 

Heads up
This underwear is available in plus sizes up to 14. 

Moms say
"[T]hey are some granny panties, but I'm so much more comfortable than I was…. I don't think I'll have any issues with those arm-length postpartum pads fitting in these."

"They won’t be flattering but they will be comfortable and be able to accommodate your postpartum belly with more than enough room for pads."

Specs

• Size range: 5-14, fits hips 36-63.5 inches
• Fabric: Cotton
• Color options: 23
   

This is a better version of the disposable underwear you'll get in the hospital. This is largely because Frida Mom’s postpartum underwear is made of a moisture-wicking cotton that makes them soft and keeps them dry. "I lived in these for the first few days postpartum," says BabyCenter Senior SEO Content Strategist Sarah Darby, who adds that the hospital's underwear gave her a contact rash. “[Frida Mom’s] were way more comfy than the hospital ones, super stretchy and soft." 

They also keep pads in place nicely, says Sarah, and had enough give that she could also wear ice packs without the underwear stretching uncomfortably over her "freshly postpartum" belly. Available in boyshort or high-waist styles, you can find a style that suits you and provides the most comfort based on your birth experience. 

Heads up
You might need multiple packs to get you through the heaviest days of your lochia. 

Moms say
“I’m 5 days postpartum and I LOVE these! They have been the most comfortable and they definitely do hold the pad in nicely, even with the ice pack added.” 

“These are the only postpartum undies I wear, and I’m a size 18 when not pregnant and have quite a big booty (5’7” tall and currently 230lbs). They fit me, but it’s a bit of a squeeze.”

"They are amazing, have fantastic support and are still really stretchy."

Specs

• Size range: Petite-regular, fits waists from 23-42 inches
• Fabric: Microfiber, spandex
• Color options: 1
   

High-waisted briefs are classic for postpartum wear, because they're large enough to keep pads in place and won't irritate your belly. Some high-waisted briefs are intended to shape and smooth your body and are made of firmer fabric that holds you in, but not every mom wants that. Enter a high-waisted postpartum underwear that’s looser and stretchier. 

Lisafé Carreon, Senior Product Manager at BabyCenter, wore these underwear after spending a couple of weeks in mesh underwear post-birth. "I love how it tucks everything in but it’s not suffocating," says Lisafé, who found this underwear supremely comfortable, with nothing to irritate her vaginal area after a vaginal birth. She says they feel like you're wearing nothing at all. 

Heads up
The brand recommends hand-washing, but Lisafé says she's machine-washed and -dried and hasn't noticed the Molasus underwear shrinking. 

Moms say
"I bought these to wear with pads and they are super comfortable! I used the Frida Mom disposable underwear when I first got home but they irritated the skin on my stomach."

"I am wearing normal high rise underwear that I ordered off of Amazon before I went into labor - had an emergency c and so glad I ordered these because they’re perfect! I’m 4 weeks pp and these are more comfortable to me than the mesh underwear was."

"[T]hey are great quality for that price. I ordered two packs just in case."

Specs

• Size range: S-5XL, fits waists 24-54 inches
• Fabric: Cotton, spandex
• Color options: 14
   

Your skin is sensitive after birth, and you may be sore and bruised in various areas. Seamless underwear, as the name suggested, is free from seams that may irritate your vaginal area or a c-section incision. Yummie's high-waisted briefs have won fans over with its comfy-yet-supportive cotton-blend brief fabric. Moms love that the waistband hits right at the belly button, so it smoothes out a postpartum pooch. 

"I had a c-section and really felt like I needed to hug everything in post-surgery," says BabyCenter Senior Health Editor Olivia DeLong. "In addition to the band the hospital gave me during recovery, I found every style by Yummie to be super comfortable and provided great support (something that felt really important to me after a c-section)."

Heads up
These underwear are available only in neutral colors.

Specs

• Size range: S/M-2/3XL, fits waists 26-46 inches
• Fabric: Cotton, nylon, spandex
• Color options: 3
   

If you're looking for affordable, absorbent, and disposable underwear, Always Discreet comes highly recommended by moms. They won't shift around and cause inadvertent leaks like pads sometimes do, especially when you're lying down.  

Leah says a friend gave her a few packs of Always Discreet that she intended to use only in case of emergencies. But when her postpartum pads started shifting at night, she tried them. "They absorbed my discharge wonderfully, and were roomy enough that I could add a disposable ice pack and a few witch hazel pads for extra pain relief," says Leah. "They also had quite a bit of stretch, which surprised me for something that's, to some extent, made of paper."

She liked that she didn't have to worry about washing the Always Discreet undies: "Obviously they cost a bit more money than reusable underwear, but if you only wear them at night you can stretch a pack a little longer and save yourself some money." And save on ruined underwear and sheets, too. 

Heads up
Most moms say they also need to wear pads with these at first. 

Parents say
“My husband bought a whole box of these from Sam’s Club, so I’ve been wearing them instead of underwear. When I first got home I wore them with the overnight pad. Now I’m just wearing them by themselves. I love them. They’re so comfortable, and I don’t have to worry about underwear.” 

"Always Discreet for the win. I lined mine with pads so that I could try and only use one a day…of course you may need to use more than one on messier days, but they were a lifesaver!"

Specs

• Size range: S/M-2XL fits waists 24-80 inches
• Fabric: Sodium polyacrylate, cellulose, polypropylene, polyester, spandex, polyethylene
• Color options: 1 
   

Many underwear brands offer "plus" sizes that are much smaller than American plus-sized garments. But this plus-size option from Wirarpa is available in sizes up to a true 5X, and has a design that benefits plus-size people. 

To start, the crotch of these underwear are nice and wide, plenty big enough to hold on pads and for more overall coverage. Moms like that these panties are topped with a wide waistband that doesn't dig into your body. Additionally, the underwear defines your shape a little, instead of bagging out below the waistband in classic granny panty style, which can be particularly unflattering to plus-sized bodies. 

BabyCenter's community members mention this underwear often, because it's affordable, comfy, and has a high waist that rests well above your c-section incision. 

Heads up
This brand also offers a low- and mid-waist version of this underwear. 

Moms say
"I bought these on Amazon and they’re so comfy, I ended up buying 2 more sets."

"I also had a c-section and ordered high-waisted cotton undies from Amazon since my maternity panties hit right at the incision. I love [these] and suggest them to all c-section mamas."

"These are amazing. So comfy but so practical. They're great for postpartum pads, with or without wings. They hug just right. I'm actually comfortable walking around in just them and a t-shirt."

"[T]hey are SO unsexy but so comfy and don’t roll/are not too tight like some other high waisted underwear."

Specs

• Size range: XS-5XL, fits waists 24-56 inches
• Material: Cotton, spandex
• Color options: 12
   

These underwear are made from a breathable cotton blend that's a little firmer than non-supportive underwear. Like shapewear, they fit closely and put a little pressure on your body, which takes some of the load off your abdominal and back muscles. Moms say they're less form-fitting and shaping than Spanx, and feel more like a pair of control-top tights or pantyhose: tight, but not uncomfortable. They make your body a little smoother and sleeker, particularly if you pull the waistband up over your belly button. 

Moms who wear them also appreciate that these underwear make them feel more confident in clothing, especially since the full-cut bottom seam falls underneath the curve of your buttocks, so it's nearly or completely invisible, even under leggings. 

Heads up
We wish this underwear came in more colors. 

Moms say
"They provide some compression and it’s not too tight."

"They are semi tight so they hold things in but go over the incision."

Specs

• Size range: S/M-3XL, fits hips 36-58 inches
• Fabric: Cotton, nylon, spandex
• Color options: 2
   

Made of a nylon-spandex fabric that provides medical-grade compression, the C-Panty supports weakened abdominal muscles like shapewear by providing pressure all around your midsection. But what really separates this underwear from similar support panties is the silicone panel on the belly. This beige insert goes directly over your c-section incision, feeling smooth against your skin and preventing your incision from chaffing.

Moms who like the C-Panty say that it rested easily on the sorest part of their belly, and made it a little easier to get up and down and move around after their c-section. As an added bonus, they liked looking a bit smoother and slimmer while wearing it. 

Heads up
They’re undoubtedly expensive, but c-section moms say the cost is justifiable. 

Moms say
“I have a pair and found them to be really comfortable, they're slimming but they're not too tight. The best part is the built-in strip across the front that covers your scar with compressed silicone. That's the best thing for healing your scar and minimizing its look.” 

“I'm wearing them now, and have been 24/7 since my c-section three days ago. They need a day or so to really get comfortable, but do they make a difference! I can actually walk around and not feel like my insides are going to fall out. Highly recommend them, they are worth every penny!”

"I like the C panties! They are on the pricey side but I find them comfy and honestly I wore them for years postpartum (after my four yr old) as Spanx."

Specs

• Size range: S/M-1/2XL, fits waists 25.6-44.9 inches
• Fabric:
• Color options: 2 
   

Made especially to hold relatively small amounts of liquid (30 milliliters, or about six teaspoons), these period panties offer protection against both lochia and urine leaks, which some women experience for a short time after birth. Yet they look and feel like you're wearing thick and high-quality stretchy underwear, so no one will know your secret powers of absorbency unless you choose to tell them. There are many brands of period underwear on the market, but BabyCenter moms say Bambody's are comfier than most, and inexpensive enough that you can stock up. They come in a wide range of sizes too. 

Heads up
You may have to wear pads along with these underwear to contain your postpartum flow, at least at first. 

Moms say
"We tried every brand out there, and these were the best for comfort and protection by far."

"I have one pair of Thinx and it's ok, don't love it. I prefer Bambody."

Specs

• Size range: XS-6XL, fits hips from 33.5-56.6 inches.
• Material: Bamboo rayon, cotton, spandex
• Color options: 9
   

Some new moms are surprised to find how sweaty they are in the period immediately following birth as their bodies work to shed the water retained during pregnancy. Mesh panties are specially adapted for this purpose, made of light cloth that's full of tiny holes to let air circulate. In addition, mesh panties are supremely stretchy, and won't put extra pressure on any part of your body. 

These mesh undies are  breathable, disposable, and, unlike hospital panties, washable (moms say they'll go through the wash up to 10 times before falling apart). They're hardly lookers, but they're comfy and hold your pads, which is essential for many moms. And thanks to a high-and-wide waistband, they're unlikely to irritate either a sensitive and itchy postpartum belly or a healing c-section incision. Moms say they're more comfortable and durable than the mesh underwear nurses give you at the hospital, and they're easy to put on and take off even when it's difficult to bend over. Best of all, if anything leaks, you can throw these undies right in the trash, along with any pads you may be using. 

Heads up
They’re similar to hospital panties, but are washable and offer a bit more support. 

Specs

• Size range: M/L-3XL, fits waists 31-53 inches
• Fabric: Polyester, spandex
• Color options: 1